Doctors at the Traditional Medicine Department of Bach Mai Hospital say that whenever the weather turns cold, the department often receives many patients seeking treatment for coughs, runny noses, headaches, chills after being in the rain, exposed to cold wind, or working in air-conditioned rooms for a long time.
Doctors at Bach Mai Hospital provide instructions on how to prepare ginger and brown sugar tea to prevent colds and treat coughs effectively - Photo: Hospital provided.
Besides modern medical treatments, traditional medicine offers very simple and easy-to-implement home care methods. Brown sugar ginger tea is one such method. It's inexpensive, easy to make, and if used at the right time, its effects are very noticeable.
Why does ginger-brown sugar tea work?
According to doctors from the Traditional Medicine Department of Bach Mai Hospital, fresh ginger has a spicy and warming nature, which helps warm the body, relieve colds, clear airways, reduce coughs, and promote mild sweating to "expel cold."
Brown sugar is warming and sweet, helping to boost energy, soothe the body, and enhance the effects of ginger without causing fatigue or stomach upset.
When combined, these two ingredients are particularly suitable for the early stages of a cold – that is, when symptoms first begin to appear.
When should you drink brown sugar ginger tea?
Brown sugar ginger tea is most suitable for cases of recent colds, exposure to rain, or wind; severe chills, slight fever; headache, body aches; nasal congestion, runny nose; mild cough, thin white phlegm. Or stiffness in the neck and shoulders due to cold.
Doctors recommend taking it as early as possible (within the first 24 hours) for better results.
The correct way to prepare and drink it:
Ingredients : Fresh ginger: about 20-30g (preferably mature ginger). Brown sugar: a moderate amount (not too sweet). Water: 1 large bowl.
Instructions: Wash the ginger, then slice it into thin strips or crush it. Boil the ginger in water for about 10 minutes. When the water has a warm, spicy aroma, add brown sugar and simmer for a few more minutes. Drink while hot.
Instructions for drinking: Drink in small sips. After drinking, keep warm, rest, and perhaps cover yourself with a blanket to induce a slight sweat. However, avoid excessive sweating.
Dosage : 1-2 times a day, use for 2-3 days is sufficient; prolonged use is not recommended.
In which cases should it not be used?
Doctors at Bach Mai Hospital advise against drinking ginger tea with brown sugar if you have symptoms such as high fever, severe sore throat; thick, yellow phlegm; thirst, dry mouth, or constipation. These are signs of a heat-related illness (wind-heat), and consuming ginger will worsen the condition.
Additionally, people prone to internal heat, yin deficiency, or hot flashes; and those with diabetes (as brown sugar increases blood sugar levels) should exercise caution when consuming this beverage.
Brown sugar ginger tea is not a cure, nor is it a substitute for medical attention when seriously ill. However, if used correctly—at the right time and for the right people—it can be a very useful health care method that our ancestors have used for a long time.
In winter, sometimes just a warm cup of brown sugar ginger tea at the right time can help the body overcome the initial symptoms of a cold, preventing the illness from progressing to a more serious stage.
Everyone should stay warm, get enough rest, eat a balanced diet, and seek prompt treatment when they first catch a cold, because "prevention is better than cure."